Princess Ijigayehu Amha Selassie
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Princess Ijigayehu Amha Selassie (known during her life as Her Imperial Highness Princess Ijigayehu Asfaw Wossen; died 1975) was the eldest child of Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen of Ethiopia by his first wife, Princess Wolete Israel Seyoum and was the granddaughter to Emperor Haile Selassie. Princess Ijigayehu was married to Dejazmach Fikre Selassie Hapte Mariam, the heir to the old Welega Kingdom of Leqa Naqamte, and brother to Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam (wife of Prince Sahle Selasse). Dejazmach Fikre Selassie and Princess Ijigayehu were the parents of six children, Prince Samson Fikre Selassie, Prince Bekere Fikre Selassie, Prince Yisehaq Fikre Selassie, Princess Rahel Fikre Selassie, Princess Aster Fikre Selassie and Princess Meheret Fikre Selassie (all created Princes and Princesses by their grandfather Emperor Amha Selassie while in exile).
Princess Ijigayehu notably accompanied her grandfather Emperor Haile Selassie on his state visit to Italy and also on his state visit to Malaysia.
Princess Ijigayehu was imprisoned with the rest of the Imperial family on September 11, 1974, the day before Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed by the Derg. She died in early 1975 after medical neglect while still in prison. She was buried quietly at the Debre Libanos monastery by her children and her mother who were under surveillance but not imprisoned. Early the following year, all her children, along with other children of the Imperial family, escaped from Ethiopia. Her husband remained imprisoned for 8 years and died in the early 1990's.
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